Virginia’s Blue Ridge is calling…
Welcome to the Star City
Roanoke is called the Star City because it is home to the world’s largest illuminated star. The star is perched on top of Mill Mountain where you can see stunning views of our city and the surrounding mountain ranges.
Discover Virginia's Blue Ridge
When students visit Hollins for the first time, they find a welcoming campus with beautiful buildings, lush grounds, and impressive mountain views. Equally as appealing is our welcoming city where activities abound and there’s always something new to see and do.
- Downtown Roanoke is filled with lots of unique shops, an outdoor market, music venues, historical buildings, and great places to eat.
- Outdoor recreation is a hallmark of the area with near endless opportunities for hiking and biking on the extensive greenways, trails and bike paths in the city. Plus kayaking at Carvins Cove or the James River is minutes away.
- Our city is host to festivals throughout the year, including music festivals, international festivals, cultural festivals, seasonal festivals, outdoor festivals, kite festivals, and more.
- The art scene is strong in Roanoke. The city features numerous galleries, art shows, open-studio tours, and the Taubman Museum of Art. And, Hollins’ own Eleanor D. Wilson museum is open to the public and features the work of renowned, emerging, and regional artists.
- Cultural opportunities are always available with the city’s numerous museums, theatre, symphony, and convention center performances.
- Outdoor concerts featuring all types of music are held in parks and venues throughout the city.
Community Connections
Roanoke and the surrounding Blue Ridge is home to a diverse community with a vibrant cultural history! Below are just a sampling of NPOs, groups, and publications reflecting, and supporting, the region’s demographic diversity.